Chapter 60. The Fairy Legion

The gaze of the great Transcendent scanned the darkened land. Ivan could feel his feeble breath in that wicked, evil place.
The blood sword Brika was trembling, noticing the former master’s existence. The fire god Kundara looked at his believer and burst into rage.
“They are preparing a ceremony. They seem to be getting a high-quality sacrifice and finish it at once.”
The red goblet, a corrupted relic that was engulfed by the energy of the demon and a descendant of Albert Hom, the blood saint who used it.
It was a very coveted offering to the demon.
It’s worth as a substitute for hundreds or thousands of common sacrifices.
Ivan said to the party, who looked at him in confusion with a firm voice.
“I guess we’ll have to go inside too.”
Then, the paladins of the Kundara Temple, who had been shouting that they would enter alone, stopped him.
“Is that all right? It’s risky. We’re prepared for it, but you have no reason to risk it.”
“I don’t like danger. No matter how urgent it is, I’m still against going into the forest recklessly. However, the situation has changed, so I must change my judgment. We have reinforcements.”
Everyone else was surprised by that.
The Sanctus Populi’s reinforcements and the troops of the Western Union Kingdom had to wait a few more days to arrive. Is there another force besides them that can help right away?
“If you want to break through the forest with enemies, you can’t use normal power. Do you have enough reinforcements?”
“Yes. It’s not just the human kingdom and Sanctus Populi that don’t want demons to appear on this earth.”
Ivan turned his head to look at Irene. Irene met his gaze and nodded slowly.
“We’re not weak enough to put everything in other people’s hands.”
Ivan’s party was here primarily because of the elf’s request. Apparently, it’s difficult for an elf to leave the forest. They are just meant to make up for it.
However, in case the fairy forest is in danger, they leave the forest to some guardians and other races who wander around the human world, but would they just watch?
They’re ready to step out whenever the situation gets serious. And that would be now.
“They are nearby. My brothers and sisters.”
Irene looked at something with a very complicated and subtle expression, as if happy or sad. She looked very upset in her expression.
The World Tree was a network created by the collective consciousness of the elves. Even if you leave the forest, if a certain number or more gather, a small-scale world tree is born, even temporarily.
As the elf army, the fairy legion approached them, she too was being stimulated. Her little world tree was calling to her.
“I’m sorry.”
she murmured lowly. And she shut her mind, forcibly ignoring the call of the World Tree, which had been away for more than a hundred years. (dlazarturead(dot)wordpress(dot)com)
She still has a lot to do in the human world.
Unless all of the guardian’s missions were completed, she could not return to the bosom of the World Tree yet.
The guardian had to be lonely. Only then could she do her own duty.
chuck! chuck!
It sounded like footsteps. The original movements of the elves were extremely soft, so footsteps were barely audible, but this time, they resounded loudly as if they were trying to announce their existence.
An army of elves wearing golden armor made by tapping elemental metal, and green cloaks made from the leaves of an old sacred tree. (TN: yeah, I’m imagining TLOTR :D)
After hundreds of years, the appearance of the fairy legion in the material world made the human soldiers who had been scattered here and there rose up. The knights shouted and straightened up their squires.
“Get up! Are you going to make the human army look pathetic?”
However, the eyes of the soldiers and even the shouting knights were shaking. The appearance of the fairy corps was so shocking.
Regardless of their gender, the elves with beautiful looks are advancing as an army.
Some soldiers tried to pinch their cheeks, wondering if they were part of a myth or legend.
“What, why? Won’t you look away?”
Some of the soldiers glanced at Irene and the Fairy Legion alternately. It was the same elf, but they were completely different.
She was a bit far from the typical image of an elf that ordinary people think of, as she smoked her tobacco with a sullen expression and wore a daring fashion. Because all the elves in the old tales were noble and mysterious fairies.
Sueup, hoo-.
Shouting angrily at the soldiers, Irene took a deep breath and spat it out. She vomited all her complex emotions in the thick smoke and returned to her expressionless face.
Ivan looked at her. The face was very elfish. Although it was in a completely different direction.
Gooo!
The fairy corps that came closer stopped in the same movement as one. And an elf who was at the forefront came forward and said hello.
“Glory to thee, guardian.”
He first looked at Irene and lowered his head slightly. There is only respect for the guardian who left the forest on her own and was performing her mission.
It was rare for a Guardian who left the forest to return safely to the World Tree. A strange land, a dangerous mission, and the extreme stress of being separated from the world tree.
It was a very glorious mission, yet also so painful and difficult. Knowing that it was their choice, it was natural to show respect to them.
“Blessings on your path ahead. It’s been a while.”
“Yes, Irene. You’ve changed a lot since then.”
“Out of the forest, it was much more dynamic than I thought. It just happens.”
“I look forward to the day you become us again.”
At that, Irene laughed.
“Yeah. When the mission is over. Someday.”
And she stepped back further. The world tree’s presence continues to excite her. Being close to it is painful for her, so she avoids it.
The elf, who looked at Irein’s back, turned his head. The sadness that had flashed on his face quickly disappeared.
He introduced himself as Philane Greywood, the commander of the fairy legion sent to this place.
“Ivan, the warrior of Asgard. I want to check the current situation. What is the enemy’s movement?”
“Corrupted relics and high priests are in the hands of the demon’s incarnation. The ceremony will soon begin, and the forest will become their domain. With a little delay, the demon will tear the portal and appear on this land.”
It was a desperate moment, but Philane was not shaken. If it weren’t for that kind of incident in the first place, there was no way the fairy legion would move. It was all within the expected range.
He glanced at the forest and said.
“The spirit veins are shaking, and the forest is polluted. They’re going to draw and build a Daemon Gate. We must hurry.”
The fairy legion did not hesitate. They wanted to enter the black forest. The human army or the priests of Sanctus Populi did not care much. In the first place, they thought they could sort it all out on their own.
“We will be with you.”
When Ivan said so, Philane asked.
“It’s not necessary. Is there any reason for that?”
He wasn’t ignoring Ivan. In the first place, it was because the elves were very weak in the emotional realm.
It was just a sincere question. It will be useless, but why do you want to follow us?
Ivan was not offended by his question at all. Philane Greywood, because he knew that name all too well.
He was an elf hero who had a very ancient lineage. A man who will be more active in the midst of a world tree on fire and the destruction of the fairy forest.
In other words, he is the Named, even those that Ivan defeated, such as Valkrun and Srakan, were incomparable to his existence. Nature’s Seeker Tezan, who will be one of the twelve great shamans in the future, should be at the same level as him.
It’s still a bit early, so Philane Greywood wasn’t in the state of acquiring the ancient fairy’s spirit either, but he wasn’t a man who could be ignored.
“Because I want it.”
In order to save a comrade with whom he once moved, the blood sword Brika led him there. It also gives him a lot of experience.
Instead of reciting such a petty reason, Ivan himself said he wanted it. And Philane did not deny his will.
Ivan was a singularity. There was a message from the World Tree that, if possible, grant his request to change the determined future even a little.
“All right.”
And Philane took out a small box from his bosom and held it out.
“You have faithfully fulfilled our request. The case is not yet closed, but we have recognized that you are entitled to the reward.”
As Ivan took the box and opened it, he heard the sound of holding their breath around him. The priests seemed to realize what was in Ivan’s hand.
They had no choice but to know. In a sense, it was a pure, holy object, and it was the power of God.
Ferocious Tooth raised his tail with a sharp instinct, stuttered, and bit his lip.
“Hey, what is that?”
Ivan stared at the marbles in the box before answering.
“A fragment of the divine. Purely washed fragment of the Transcendental.”
Unlike other gods, the World Tree was born with the strength of the collective consciousness and faith of the elves. Therefore, the fragments of the divine were also divided into small pieces for all the elves.
So it was not completely impossible to collect the fragments of the divine. But, even in a very small amount, they are part of the Transcendental. It was a much greater reward than Ivan was expecting.
At most, Ivan was expecting the fruit of the world tree or a diluted elixir. Still, since it is a fragment of the divine, the expectations for the world tree for him are quite high.
The existence of a singularity that can twist the approaching ruin even a little. So it seemed like the World Tree was thinking of making a bold investment.
“Your companions will receive a separate reward. It is entirely yours, so you can use it for yourself.”
Philane said so, but Ivan was unwilling to simply take it. Since it was a precious gift than expected, he was rather suspicious.
‘If it is a fragment of the divine, the effect will be certain, but is it okay to swallow it as it is?’ (dlazarturead(dot)wordpress(dot)com)
It was like absorbing a part of the Transcendent. Although it was washed cleanly, his will could have been taken away if there were any thoughts left. The experience in which he saw himself as Odin in a fantasy made him hesitant.
But in the end, Ivan lifted the fragment of divinity. The danger is increasing. He couldn’t avert a greater risk if he didn’t take risks.
It was a world tree, not another God. Their own tribal God was created by the elves. There was no way that a human body could be taken away.
Ivan, who had cleared his suspicions like that, swallowed the fragment of the divine in his mouth. It was a reckless method, but there was no clearer way than this.
To absorb the power, eating was the most optimal action for that. It also has a magical meaning.
Gulp.
The pure white fragment of divinity looked like glass, but it turned into a cool liquid as it passed through his throat. Then, it spread all over the body and became a hot flame.
Whoosh!
Ivan bit his teeth tightly. He felt the pain as if a tree was growing inside his body.
No matter how purified it was, a part of the Transcendental, a fragment of divinity, is no joke.
However, that mighty power, the existence of the Transcendental, healed Ivan. The sacred vessels that had been cracked and broken here and there were neatly repaired. On the contrary, Ivan even felt refreshed because the vessel became wider than before.
Cheeky!
Whi-ing!
Whoosh!
Various divine powers rose from Ivan’s body. The fragments of the divinity were scattered to strengthen the power of the gods.
Spark!
His eyes burned hot with pain piercing his brain. His lost eyes throbbed, and red blood flowed down. But Ivan could see that it was not wounded and destroyed but because it had been restored and regenerated.
Slurp.
Ivan opened his closed eyes. The world is clear.